My first planted, this light cool?

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hermeticcharm

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Aug 25, 2010
35
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Wilmington, DE
So I am trying to put together my first planted tank. It's gonna be in a 20gal long. This light keeps popping up everywhere I look so would this be good for a 20gal long with some water lettuce, anacharis, java moss? Would the bulbs that come with it be good? Basically using this tank to grow food for my turtles =D.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/edealinv/servlet/ExecMacro?nurl=control/StoreItem.vm&siId=1379085&catParentID=57011&scId=57011&ctl_nbr=3684&utm_source=Froogle&utm_campaign=FroogleUSA+Datafeed&utm_medium=Comparison+Shopping&CAWELAID=388698127
 
I'm definitely a noob when it comes to planted tanks and needed lighting but I'd suggest looking in the stickies.

You need to determine how much light you need(par) and throw out wpg. Then just find a light capable of giving you what you need. There is a nice graph in one of the stickies up there that show 3 different types of lights, and how much par you get compared to how high the light is off the substrate. I'll find it for you.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73446
 
Thanks, yeah I had read through that sticky but I am still deciphering everything since this is all completely new to me. What I have figured out so far is that I need a good reflector and a good light. The light needs to produce a certain amount of energy based on the size of the tank to promote good growth. Where I start to get confused is with all the different kinds of lights, watts, lumens, kelvins, par and it goes on! Heh I know once I understand more it will be easier.

But looking over that chart again my tank will be 12" high, about 10" after substrate. The fixture in the link comes with one T5 6700k bulb (18 watts) and one T5 6700k full spectrum (18 watt). I am guessing HO is more powerful but looking at that chart a single HO would put me somewhere around 120-130 micromols. I think all I need is medium lighting so an HO might be overkill. Could some one possibly explain the intensity difference between the T5 bulbs that come with the fixture and a T5 HO so I could figure out where on the chart they would put me?
 
I used to run these lights on my 20-long planted tank, and they are just fine . . . and for the price, they are not very expensive. I don't use them any more, but only because I now run open-top tanks, and they don't have waterproof end-caps . . .

I have found them for similar price at my LFS
 
20gLongs are tough due to the 30" length...Not many fixtures out there to choose from. This is a great fixture, though. I have several in my "collection"! Not enough output for high-light plants, but it'll be fine for the plants you're planning. The Coralife is normal output T5, but ZooMed has just recently started selling a 30" T5 high output. That would be enough to get you into hi tech-hi light territory, but tread lightly if you don't have much experience with planted tanks!
 
I ended up getting this light today. I knew that all the pet stores near me don't have it so I drove an hour and a half to Lancaster, PA and got one from "That Fish Place". Really awesome pet store, if you're any where near it you should check it out. But any way, set the tank up with the extra 20 gallon I had and some old filters. Bought a bag of Flourite and the light totaling about $70 for the whole project. Once the water clears I will add the goodies and post some pics.
 
sounds cool . . . pretty much the same thing I did with my 20G long planted tank, and it worked great . . .
 
hermeticcharm;4453486; said:
I ended up getting this light today. I knew that all the pet stores near me don't have it so I drove an hour and a half to Lancaster, PA and got one from "That Fish Place". Really awesome pet store, if you're any where near it you should check it out. But any way, set the tank up with the extra 20 gallon I had and some old filters. Bought a bag of Flourite and the light totaling about $70 for the whole project. Once the water clears I will add the goodies and post some pics.
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Does the fixture have an on and off switch per bulb or it lights up both bulbs with on and off?
 
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